Apparatus for vulcanizing inner tubes



April 1930- DE. SCHNEDAREK 1,755,563

APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING INNER TUBES Filed April 7, 1927 5 INYENTDI? Y [iv/L SCHHEDHREK EUE- Z 5y 8%, M

ATTORNEY;

Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

EMIL SGHNEDAREK, 0F AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

NATIONAL RUBBER MACHINERY COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01.

Application filed April 7,

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in the vulcanization of inner tubes, whlle in circular form and while expanded by means jacket, which is composed of a plurality of segments, toward and from the inner ringshaped mold member. The invention has for its advantages a quick and easily operated mechanism for accomplishing the opening and closing of the tube vulcanizer.

*In the drawings, the preferred form or embodiment of the invention is'shown, but it will be appreciated that modifications and improvements may be made thereon which come within the scope and limits of the in vention as defined in the claims and as allowed by the state of the prior art.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved tube vulcanizer,,the mold being shown in section and in closed position in full lines and in open position in dotted lines; and

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

The tube mold is shown at 1, being composed of an inner ring-shaped member orsection 2 and an outer jacket which is preferably formed in two semi-circular halves 3 and 4 which, when brought together, encircle and enclose the inner section to form a comple'te circular cavity for the reception and vulcanization of the inner tube T.

The several sections are chambered for the circulation of steam to effect vulcanization, the connections for the steam not being shown, as well within standard practice. The inner section is provided with the usual radial passageway for the location of the APZ'ALRATUS FOR. VULGANIZING INNER TUBES 1927. Serial No. 181,720.

valve stem V. It will be observed that the inner section and the outer jacket are separated along a surface which passes trans versely from side to side of the cavity at about its median line and that the sections 0 the jacket are divided upon radial surfaces at 180 apart. The location of the dividing surfaces and their direction may be varied if found advisable or desirable without affecting the principles of the invention. It is also possible to divide the outer jacket into more than two segments or sections, the

-mechanism being alteredas well within the province of the builder or manufacturer.

The inner section 2 is provided with a pl-urality of lugs 6 by which it is attached to a vertical supporting web or standard 7 which is attached to the upper surface of a base I I plate 8. At the corners of the web are located pairs of horizontally aligned bearings 10, and at a midway point between the bearings of each air is located-an intermediate bearing 12. upported at their ends in the bearings 10, and at midway points in the bearings 12, are upper and lower horizontal operating shafts 14, those portions of each shaft which lie on opposite sides of the central bearing being provided with right and left screw threads. Attached to or formed as parts of each section of the outer jacket are lugs 16 in which are fixed nuts 17 which engage the screw-threaded portions of the shafts 14. A

At one side of the machine the shafts 14 are provided with bevel pinions 18 which mesh with bevel gears 19 secured upon a vertical shaft 20 mounted in bearings 21 at the side of the web 7. One end of the shaft is connected to a drive shaft 22 through intermeshing gearing 23.

The operation of the device will be understood from the description whichhas been given. Upon rotation of the shaft 20 in one direction, the two segments of the outer jacket will be moved outwardly away from the central ring-shaped mold to approximate ly the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, the rotation of the shaft being stopped whenthe segments reach their outer limit by disconnecting the shaft 22 from its drive,

either by hand or automatically. The inner ring segment is now open and exposed about its entire periphery and the unvulcamzed inner tube may be placed in the mold with the valve stem inserted in position. The shaft 20 is then rotated in the opposite direction and the two segments of the jacket move inwardly until the molding cavity is closed. The tube is then expanded hy fluid pressure introduced through the valve stem in the well known manner and the tube is vulcanized by the heated sections. The mechanism for operating the split jacket is simple and effective and will open and'close the mold easily and quickly.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for the vulcanization of inner tubes, comprising a tube mold divided circumferentially into inner and outer sections, the former being a continuous ringshaped member having a trough-shaped recess on its outer periphery and the latter being divided into a plurality of segments, each having a trough-shaped recess on its inner periphery, an independent mounting for each segment and means connected therewith to 'move the segments simultaneously toward and from the inner section, said means comprising oppositely screw-threaded shafts, lugs carried by each'segment engaging said shafts and a common driving means for rotating the shafts.

2 A machine for the vulcanization of inner tubes, comprising a tube mold divided circumferentially into inner and outer sections, the former being rigidly mounted on the machine, and parallel shafts mounted in the machine,'each shaft having oppositely screw-threaded portions, a common driving mechanism for said shafts, the outer sectionbeing divided into equal segments, and lugs connected to sald segments and in engagement with the screw-threaded portions of said shafts.

a I SCHNEDAREK. 

